This year, Indiana nonprofit Lifeline Youth & Family Services celebrates 50 years of changing hearts and bringing hope to families across Indiana. The organization is celebrating this milestone all year long, and last Saturday they treated their nearly 700 employees to an anniversary celebration at the Indianapolis Zoo.

On Saturday morning, hundreds of Lifeline staff and their families gathered at the Indianapolis Zoo’s Bicentennial Pavilion to enjoy the day together as a thank-you for the hard work they put in each and every day.

“It is important for us to acknowledge each member of the staff here at Lifeline, because they are our biggest asset; without them, we would not be able to provide therapy and support thousands of hurting families each year,” says Mark Terrell, CEO of Lifeline. “This celebration is just a small way to thank them for everything they do each day.”

The day consisted of an all-day zoo pass as well as a party in a private event space with lunch, yard games, raffle prizes, face painting, and other family-friendly activities.

Jennifer Landis, a staff member at Lifeline for the last 10 years, shared her thoughts about the event. “Being able to celebrate together, to meet other staff from around the state and share our experiences – it really means a lot,” she said. “The work we do can be really hard, especially emotionally, so for Lifeline to do something like this for us is really awesome.”